High speed printer



June 14, 1960 Filed April l, 1957 F. R. HOUSE HIGH SPEED PRINTER 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 14, 1960 F. R. HOUSE HIGH SPEED PRINTER 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1, 1957 June 14, 1960 F. R. HOUSE 2,940,385

HIGH SPEED PRINTER Filed April l, 1957 7 Sheets-Sheet Z5 June 14, 1960 F. R. HOUSE HIGH SPEED PRINTER '7 Sheets-Sheet 4` Filed April l, 1957 June 14, 1960 F. R. HOUSE 2,940,385

HIGH SPEED PRINTER Filed April l, 1957 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 14, 1960 F. R. HusE 2,940,385

HIGH SPEED PRINTER Filed April 1, 1957 'T Sheets-Sheet 6 June 14, 1960 F. R. HOUSE 2,940,385

HIGH SPEED PRINTER Filed April l, 1957 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 L A N W n s C 0 ETR T G R nAn .mw \S .W m E ||||l Il SW a OM- N 5 5 n 2 l .oO M T l AI in I 5c F EF E T 0 S A L G N w M w o IT L m o Y G T S K E E A U E E E C G G T B G G5 G R C m |Y A l A 2 S R A N A5 A O c T T T .m T vu. M S S 6 S KER 5 D H LUF. K T A CPG o E s 6 t E 5 5 H R M H5 f n ll CHAR. *LIT-L www STORAGE MATRIX ISM PRINT WHEEL lla DATA FROM EXTERNAL REGISTER COLUMN X HAMMER PRINT HAMMER MODULE (ONE HAMMER PER COLIJMN) PRINT HAMMER THYRATRON CIRCUIT-' (ONE FOR EACH HAMMER) HIGH SPEED PRINTER Frank R. House, Franklin, Mass., assignor to Anelex Corporation, Concord, NH., a corporation of. New Hampshire Filed Apr. 1, 1957, Ser. No. 649,852

20 Claims. (Cl. 10i-93) This invention relates to high speed printers of the type known as high speed printer, illustrated in the application of Leo Rosen et al., Serial No. 261,904 filed December 15, 1951, now U.S. Patent No. 2,805,620 dated September 10, 1957.

A high speed printer embodying this invention comprises a motor which drives 4a multiple column print wheel on which are engraved multiple characters per column. The motor also drives a synchronizing generator which emits a stream of pulses corresponding to the characters per column engraved on the print wheel in a time sequence corresponding to the arrival sequence of the print wheel character rows in print position'. This synchronizing pulse stream is usually fed to a storage matrix into which data from an external source is fed, and from which a trigger pulse is emitted when a distributed pulse matches the desired character signal from' the data source. The trigger pulses re electronic switches which cause magnetically operated hammers to imprint an inked ribbon and paper on the print wheel, the row of print Wheel characters which is at that inst-ant in print position. The motor also drives a clock pulse generator which emits one or more clock pulses for each rotation of the print wheel, and which identities the start of each printi wheel rotation, or a particular set of characters.

An object of this invention is to provide a penetration control which provides the proper penetration of a print hammer into the ribbon and paper on which data is being printed, which can be adjusted to vaccommodate difterent paper and ribbon thicknesses, and different numbers of i carbon copies, and which will not permit a print hammer to physically contact ya print wheel regardless of whether or not ribbon and/or paper are in the machines.

Another object of this invention is to conserve space by providing print hammer modules, each containing `a number of print hammers, alternate ones ofwhich have aligned actuating magnetic coils, and the other ones of which have aligned actuating magnetic coils which are out of alignment with the magnetic coils of the alternate ones of the print hammers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a print hammer module that provides for ten characters per.

inch printing while allowing suicient space between adjacent magnet coils to receive the .print hammers.

Another object of this invention is to provide front stops for'the print hammers which reduce the dwell time of. the hammers when printing, and thereby provide av quick rebound of the printing characters, and sharp,V

clear -printing. l Another object of this invention is to lprovide a hardened stop surface which is impacted by a hardened surface on a-print hammer when the latter is moved to printing position, for causing the print hammer to bounce q-nicklyfaway from print position. f Another object of this inventionis to provide" baci:`

nited States Patent l ice 2 stops for the print hammer having self-locking adjustment by means of which the night time of all hammers of Kall columns can be individually adjusted so that the flight time of all the hammers will be substantially equal.

Another object of this invention is to provide a print hammer module having four print hammers so arranged that they can be interlaced with the print hammers of a similar module to provide an eight column-ten character per inch printer which may be placed alongside of similar printers to provide as many columns as are required.

This invention will now be described with reference to the annexed drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation, partially in section, of the printing portion of a high speed printer embodying invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partially in section, ofthe pulse generators, and of a portion of the printv hammer assembly of a high speed printer embodying this inveni tlon;

Fig. 3 is an end View on a reduced scale of the pulse generator of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the four hammer print hammer modules used;

Fig. 5 is a side view of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6v is ia section along the line 6 6 of Fig. 7`;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fractional side view of the pivot assembly of one type of print hammer used;

Fig. 8 is 4a section along the line 8-8 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 9 is -a view similar to Fig. 5 but in section along the line 9--9 of Fig. 8 and shows the other type of print hammer used;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fractional view of the print wheel and a hammer with the proper hammer penetration for la single sheet of paper and a single ribbon, the adjustable calibrated penetration control being shown set for this condition;

Fig. 1l is `a view similar to Fig. l0 but showing the proper hammer penetration for three sheets of paper and three ribbons, the penetration control being shown set for this condition;

Fig. 12 is a `diagrammatic plan view looking down on two modules having interlaced print hammer;

Fig. 13 is a ydiagrammatic side view of Fig. l2 showing the connection of the magnetic coils of the modules. to the thyratrons which close their energizing circuits, and

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic View showing an information rotor, fifty-six sync pulses are generated in the coil 24'.

Spaced inwardly of the slots 23 is a single slot 26. A

stator coil 27 has a permanently magnetized pole piece- 28 closely adjacent thev periphery of the rotor. During each revolution of the rotor, a single clock pulse is geni erated in the coil 27.` The rotor is phased in relation to the print wheel so that the occurrence of 'eachsync pulse indicates that a longitudinal row of print wheel:A characters has arrived in print position. The clock pulse' serves to identify the start of each print wheel rotation,

and therefore occurs slightly ybefore the viirst sync pulse.- The stator coil 24 is mounted on bracket 30 which,` is curved in a circular arc about the rotor, and' which" is atl.. tached to frame 31 by screws 32 Vextending through-'slots 3s in the wacker-so. A screw atonement ma' notas;

on the bracket 30, and on a nut 36 on the lframe, can

be rotated when the screws 32are loosened to change the angular position of the bracket 30 and the coil 24 for adjusting phasing with respect to the print roll.

' `The stator coil 27 is mounted on a bracket38-which drives are attached to a quadrant plate 17 having a hub 19 yfor pivot shaft 101 attached thereto.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the print roll 20, which would have columns -and rows of print characters engraved thereon, as shown by Fig.` 14, has a pair of spread-apart curved shields 45 extending close -about a portion of its periphery, the shield guiding an inked ribbon 46 around` the said portion of the roll, the ribbon Vbeing fed from a supply roll 47, and rewound on a rewind roll 48 and vice versa. Sheets ofV paper 49 on which the characters are to be printed, separated by carbons-40, aremoved along platens ,51 and the ribbon 46 where it passes the space between the ribbon shieldsr45. Print hammers, one of which is identified on Fig. 1 lby the reference character 52, areV adapted to be moved inwardly into the spaces between the platens Y51 and the ribbon shields45 so as to -force the paper assembly against the ribbon 46 and the latter against the print wheel for causing characters `on the print wheel to be printed upon the paper sheets, in Vaccord with elec-A tricalY pulse orders which have print wheel rotative position sense through the sync generator 22 for selecting the Y desired character and the proper hammer column posiof a similar, oppositely positioned module, the print'hammers of the two modules being interlaced-two modules on top and two modules on the bottom provide a ten-V hammer per inch array for providing ten columns per inch printing. Y Y

Fig. lrillustrates aligned rows of modules 60 which are supported from a bed plate 61. The right portion of.

Fig. 2 showsV aligned modules 60. s

The Vdetails 4of -a module 60 'will now be described With reference'to Figs. 4-9. Alternate ones of the print hammers of aY module, those having the reference characters 52, are formed on the inner ends of hammer bars 62, the

outer ends 63 of which are clamped by screws 64 and:

plates 65 to the outer ends of reeds 66. The inner ends of the reeds 65 are clamped by screws 67 andfplates 68 to themodule frame. The reeds serve as hinges for Ythe hammer bars. The outer ends 63 of the hammer bars 6 2 also extend across pole pieces 69 of magnetic coils 70, the coils 70 when energized pulling down the hammerVV bar ends 63, causing the hammer Vbars 6Zto pivot, and' causing the hammers .52 to be moved to printing posi-V tion.

The other ones of the four print hammers of a module,

whichfare identied by Areference charactersY 72, areormed on the inner, ends of hammer bars 73 (Figs. 6

and-9), the outer ends 74 of which are clamped by screws 75 and plates 76 to reeds 77. The previously described screws 67 and plates 68 clamp the inner ends of the reeds 77.- The hammer bar 73 has a portion 79 extending perpendicular to the barV adjacent its outer end, and;

which extends across pole piece 80 of magnetic coils 81. Ifh'e'reeds 77 serve as hinges for the hammer bars 73,

I and when the coils 81 are energized, the bar portions 79 are pulled towards the pole pieces 80, causing the hammers 72 to move to print position.

Each print hammer has a hardened surface S opposite a hardened surface S1 on a print hammer front stop 125. A guide pin 126 extends through the surfaces S1 and S into the print hammer and the stop 125. The surface S1 strikes the surface S1 when the print hammer moves towards the print roll, .and Vcauses the print hammer through the resiliency of itsreed 66 or 77, to quickly rebound or bounce back from printing position, thus avoiding smears on the paper or the roll.

The -frame of the module 60 is provided with circular holes 83 opposite the print hammers, and the latter have circular rods 84 which extend into the holes 83, and the rods 84 have guide pins 86 extending therethrough and tted in a slot 85. Rods 88 are threaded in nylon nuts 89 recessed in the module frames, and their upper ends (Fig. 9) contact the lower ends of the hammer rods 84. The rods 88 can 'bel screwed inwardly or outwardly for increasing or decreasing, respectively, theaspacings between the surfaces S and S1, and thevight times of the associated hammers.

73 Iare confined within .closelytting recesses 96 in the module yframe bed, thus preventing sideways movement of the print hammers. Y

Each pair of magnetic'coils 70 has a magneticishieldv 97 onl opposite sides thereof, and each Ypair of magnetic coils 81 has a magnetic shield 98 on opposite sides thereof, these shields preventing there being a diierence in flight time of hammers when adjacent hammer coils are energized simultaneously, one at a time, or at random.

,The hammer bars 62 are seen to be longer than the hammer bars 73 and to extend between adjacent bars 73,V

y as shown also by Fig. 12. This greatly reduces the space required by a module. This can be `appreciated by a glance at Fig. 8, which shows that if two additional pairs of coils 70 were usedinstead of the coils 81, for the hammer bars l73, the width of a module would be almost doubled.

The module, the hammers of which would be interlaced with the hammersof the described module, is similar to the latter, and differs only in that it is located on the opposite side of print position as shown by vFigs.

- 1,2and l2. v

A penetration control is provided vfor insuring'the proper hammerpenetration when different thickness of paper and carbons are used, and when diierent numbers of carbon copies are printed. Thiscontrol moves the print roll towards and away' -from the aligned print'hammers, thus providing proper penetration of lallhammers land/or change thereof with a sin-gletcontrol. This control comprises a print roll support 100Y (see Fig'. l),

-which is pivoted on pivot shaft 101- (Fig. 3) to the vframe of the printer.` At some radius from the pivot, Athev frame 100 has 1an outwardly turned lug` 102 tothe outer end of which is attached -a nut 103 within'which is threaded a threaded rod V104 having a calibrated dial 108 on `its outer end. The inner'end of .the rod 104 contacts the outer end of a bolt 105. A rubber sleeve 106 around the inner end of the bolt 105 serves to cushion .shock when moving the hinged print roll towards the print position.. Bold threads into the side fname'y Vof the print mechanism `and is -factory adjusted and locked by nut 107 in a position such that when the 'pene-' tration control dial stop pin 120 is against stop pin 121, the aligned print hammers have the proper clearance from the print roll. This usually corresponds to printing on single sheet thinvpaper with a silk ribbon and still have a positive mechanical clearance. Rotation of the dial S in a clockwise direction (looking down on Fig. 3) rotates the rod 104 to `advance its inner end against the adjacent end of the tixed bolt 105, causing the print roll to move further from the print hammers 52 and 72. A set screw 109 is provided for locking the rod 104 in a selected position.

As shown by Fig. 2, the lug 103 has a slot 130 in which there is a lock rod 131 which would be attached to a ychain which is not shown, and which can be swung outwardly to permit the print wheel assembly to be pivoted outwardly for cleaning, servicing, etc.

Fig. 10 illustrates in full line outline a print hammer 52 in non-printing position, and illustrates in dashed line outline the print hammer in printing position, the proper pentration for a single sheet of paper 49 being shown. The setting of the penetration control dial 108 for this duty is shown.

Fig. l1 is similar to Fig. 10 but shows two paper sheets 49 with a ribbon 50 therebetween, and shows the penetration control dial 108 rotated to move the print roll 20 further rfrom the print hammers vfor accommodating and providing proper penetration of the additional paper thickness.

Fig. l2 shows diagrammmatically a plan view of two modules showing the interlaced or staggered arrangement of coils 7 o and 81 of the hammer bars 62 and 73, respectively, -and shows the alignment of the print hammers 52 and 72 opposite print position.

Fig. 13 is a side View of Fig. l2, and shows also gaseous electron tubes 110 connected to the magnetic coils 7 0 and 81, each tube having its anode connected through a capacitor 111 to one end of its respective magnetic coil, the other ends of all of the coils being connected to the grounded cathodes of the tubes. The tubes have screen grids connected through resistors 112 to their cathodes, and have control grids connected through resistors 113 C- (bias). The anodes of the tubes are also connected through resistors 114 to B plus (anode voltage Supply)- The tubes 110 would normally be biased below cut oi so that normally they cannot conduct. Their contact grids are connected to receive trigger pulses from an external data source when corresponding sync pulses are emitted by the sync pulse generator, causin-g the tubes to conduct and energize the magnetic coils of their respective print hammers. There is a tube 110 for each print hammer of the synchroprinter. Other electronic driving circuits may be used to energize the hammers.

Fig. 14 illustrates an infomation handling system embodying this invention. Data from an external source such as a shift register is supplied with a storage matrix SM which has, in the illustrated embodiment, 120 columns with 56 character channels per column. The purpose of the storage matrix is to store incoming data until one information for one complete line print is available on demand.

The start of a printing operation is controlled by a pulse from the clock generator coil 27 which causes clock C to reset electronic distributor D just prior to the 4application of the sync pulses from the sync pulse generator coil 24. The distributor D has 56 stages which are connected to corresponding stages of a Igate G, which, in turn, are connected to corresponding channels `of the matrix SM.

Each column of the matrix SM is connected to the control grid of a thyratron 110, the plate and screenY grid of which are connected to the electromagnet of a print hammer as described in the foregoing.

The printing cycle can be started in synchronism with any pulse in the sync pulse stream. This is accomplished by applying a print signal from an external source (not shown) to a 56-stage counter SC which opens the gate G for the duration of 56 successive sync pulses unless the counter is sooner reset. This action permits a 56-pulse scan by the distributor that reads out all stored data in the matrix SM regardless of the position of the print wheel at the start of printing. This is called free-wheeling operation. The system can also be operated in a so-called xed cycle operation in which the distributor scan begins with the iirst print wheel character row, and ends with the last character row.

The motor M rotates the print wheel 20, the clock pulse generator 26 and the sync pulse generator Z3 and supplies, after a clock pulse, sync pulses to the distributor D which scans through the gate G, the horizontal columns of the storage matrix SM. Fig. 14 shows the Nth distributed pulse sensing the corresponding horizontal matrix channel which contains stored data in co1- umn X.

This results in the emission of a pulse from the matrix` at time tn that triggers an associated thyratron 110 which permits a capacitor 111 to discharge and energize the associated print hammer electromagnet which actuates the print hammer causing the nth print wheel character to be printed on the paper in column X.

What isclaimed, is:

l. A print hammer module for a high speed printer comprising a plurality of print hammers aligned in a row, print hammer bars of magnetic metal connected at corresponding ends to said hammers, electromagnets at the opposite ends of alternate ones of said bars, means.

pivoting said alternate ones of said bars between said ends thereof, said electromagnets having pole pieces adjacent said opposite ends and being adapted, when energized, to pull said opposite ends towards said pole pieces, for causing said alternate bars to move their respective hammers to print position, means pivoting the others of said bars at their ends opposite their print hammers, said other bars having portions at their said opposite ends turned at angles of substantially ninety degrees thereto, and electromagnets having pole pieces adjacent said portions, said last mentioned electromagnets being adapted, when energized, to pull said portions towards said last mentioned pole pieces for causing said other bars to move their respective hammers to print position.

2. A module as claimed in claim 1 in which said pivoting means comprises ilexible reeds.

3. A module as claimed in claim 2 in which said bars having spring means between said hammers and said pivoting means for maintaining said hammers in normal, non-printing position.

4. A module as claimed in claim 3 in which said module has a frame member with recesses in which said bars are located and which have sides closely adjacent the lsides of the bars for limiting transverse movements of have spring means between said hammer and pivoting" means for maintaining said hammers in normal, nonprinting position.

7. A module as claimed in claim 1 in which said module has a frame member with recesses therein having sides closely adjacent the sides of said bars for limiting transverse movement of said bars.

8. A module as claimed in claim 1, in which said bars opposite said hammer have rods thereon, in which said module has a frame member with holes therein in which said rods are located, and in which means is provided in said holes in contact with said rods for adjusting the times of -ight of said hammers.

lentro-,ass-

7 "Af-module asclaimed in claimY 1- in- Awhiehsaidcoils havemagneticshields-therebetween; f- 1lOIneafhighespeedprinter having a frame, havinga print roll, `having alplurali'ty of print hammers aligned inv-arrow extending substantially parallel to lthe axis of said-roll, having means for'causingY selected4` ones "of said-hammersY-to Imove towards said roll, :and having means -Hfor Vs'upporting'said'roll Vfor rotationfaboutlsaid axis, said hammers beingnormally spaced l'from said roll, the-improvement comprisingmeans l'for connecting said roll-supporting means Ato said frame for -movement relative'fthereto -andtowards andA from said hammers,

Vand means including' a threaded rotatable member andV af'fpair ofstationary membersfthreaded around said Yrotatable =member `andV lsecured, one tosaidv `supporting lmeansAT and'fthe other to said frame,`for--moving'said Y roll towards and fromV said hammers, Vsaid rotatable member-having means for themanual rotation,'said rotatable member and said supportingmeans havingfcalibrated means for indicatingy the degree-of rotation of said rotatable member. Y

1l. The `invention ,claimed in claim 10 in which saidV calibrated meansvinclu'des stop means for vlimiting ,the rotation of said rotatable member in a direction 'to cause said yroll-.to move towards said hammers. Y

12. 1A high speed printer comprising a print roll, a iirst print hammer YmoduleV on lone side of the axisof said roll, VAa second print rhammer module on theA opposite sidefo said: axisopposite said lirst module, each of said modules 'having a frame,having `tour-print hammers,

and having Arneansjpivoting its'rsaid'hammers to v'its said frame, the, print'hammers of said irst module 'beingY interlaced with the print hammers 'of-.said secondmodule in `arrow extendingsubstantially parallel to said axis,

i Yeach of 'said modules having first and second meansV forA moving valternate ones" of lits print hammers towards Ysaid. roll, and' having third-and fourth means forV moving the other .ones of Vits print hammers towards said roll'.

'13. The invention claimed in claim 12 in which said first and second means of each module includesiirst and secondbelectromagnets spacedy substantiallyV the same dis-Y tancev from said roll,'and in which said third and' fourth means o'fveach module includes third andffourth electromagnets'spaced substantially the same distance from said roll but being spaced afdierent -distance 'from said'roll than said first andA second -electromagnets are spaced.'

14. A print hammer module fora high speed printer comprising a frame, four-spaced-apart vrprint Jhammers Valigned in a row, means including -tworelatively long members connected at their inner ends to alternate ones Y of saidhammers for pivoting-said alternate o'nes of-said hammers to. said frame, means including -twov relatively Y s'hortmembers connected at their inner ends vto the 'other yones of said hammers for pivotingsaid other ones of said -.third and fourth 'electromagneta lfor nmoi/'ing said other ones of said print hammers to print position,said hammers being spaced apart sufficient distances to permit the Yprint hammers of a similar module to' be placed in the-spaces betweenY said first mentioned hammers so as -to be interlaced therewith.

V15. A print hammer module as =cl`aimedrin claim 14 in -which said magnetic surfaces on said relatively long members extend substantially in a plane, Vand in which said magnetic surfaces on said relatively short members extend substantially in a plane which is substantiallyV perpendicular to said plane.

16. A print hammer'module as claimed in claim 14 in which Saidmeans for pivoting-said hammers to said frame includes lflexible reeds Vconnected to said members and tol saidfframe, in which said frame -is Vprovided with hardened hammer stops, and in which said hammers are provided with hardened stopk surfaces opposite said stops and normally spaced therefrom for limiting the -movements of said hammers towards print position, 4and for causing through the resiliencyof said reeds,'said hammers to-.bounce quickly away from said stops.

17. A print hammer Vmodule-as`claimed in claim 16 in which said-magnetic surfaceson said relatively long Ymembersextend substantiallyl in-a plane, and` in which-said- Y spaced, said hammers having hardened stop surfaces opposite said stops, and means for moving said hammers to print position, said stops limiting the'movements'of said hammers towards printpositio'n and causing through the resiliency of said reeds, said khammers Vto bounce quickly away from saidstops.

19. A print'hammer module as claimed `in claim 18 in which means is provided for'varying the spacing between each of said stops and the hardened sto'p surface of itsV respective hammer.

`2O. A print hammer module as claimed `in claim 19 invwhich there'are-provided spring restsffo'r said hammers whichextend between saidframe and said vpivoting Ymeans and are lattached to said' frame, Yand'which Vnormally space said `hammers from said stops.

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